By Phil Coleman

Last updated 13:24, Monday, 01 December 2008

VIRTUALLY every home in Cumbria is to be sent a magazine containing essential information about NHS services across the county.

The ‘Your NHS’ magazine has been produced by NHS Cumbria and is being sent to more than 200,000 homes in the county over the next two months. As well as useful contact numbers for NHS services, the magazine includes advice on how to stay healthy over the winter months.

It also has information on improvements being made to health services and an interview with a local GP on the how people can help avoid wasting medicines.

The magazine is designed to meet a Department of Health directive which urges primary care trusts to communicate directly with households about NHS services available.

Maggie Chadwick, chair of NHS Cumbria, said: “The magazine is an essential guide to NHS services.

“It has been designed to help people get the most out of their local health service and contains details on local services in each part of the county and a handy list of telephone numbers.”

Copies of the magazine are also available online at www.cumbriapct.nhs.uk.